October 2012
class events. I think that will give the nation huge confidence.
“London is now back on the global map and much further up people’s agendas.” “Throughout the Games we had waves of potential investors coming to London as part of our Olympic hosting programme; such as a technology wave, creative wave and financial services wave. Each of them came in for a two or three day programme, where they not only saw some sport but we were able to show them around the city, take them to some themed meetings and debates, and get them to meet some of the existing businesses here. We did a number of waves like that, and from our point of view they were very successful.” “There were a number of people who came in those waves who have already announced that they are going to do business. For example Silicon Valley Bank have announced that they are going to open in London. Amazon have opened a huge digital research facility in Farringdon. Then there are still people we are part way through a conversation with about coming to London.” As they say, ‘what goes up must come down’, and that is the fear; now that the Games are over it will only be a matter of time before the comedown begins. Such was the resounding success of both the Olympics and the Paralympics, such were the emotional highs experienced by the nation, that surely now must come the lull as we return to a sombre pre-Games state? Not in the eyes of Malthouse, who believes that we can continue the momentum so fantastically created. “We were worried about the hangover after the party,” admitted Malthouse, “so London & Partners, who are our inward investment agency and promotions agency, have been, and still are running promotional campaigns in key markets to ensure London is still there in the limelight. They are helping promote the message that the games are over but
Park Life: Stratford’s Olympic Park was the centre of an incredible summer of sport
London is still here and is a place where Britain can achieve.” The goal now is to you should still come and invest.” continue in this vein and ensure London, and Britain, remains a focal point in both Malthouse points to the regeneration of the sporting, and more importantly, the Stratford, and now that the Games have business world. finished that will continue as the business and sporting legacies created by the Games are cemented, and don’t just fall Marcus Leach is a business by the wayside as empty promises. journalist, having previously gained “The park itself is basically what we experience in both sports and travel hope will be a catalyst for the economic journalism. After three years living regeneration for that whole area,” he and writing about rugby in South said. “There is already a huge amount Africa he travelled through Africa and of housing going on. But there will also the Middle East before returning to be the commercial developments. London where he is Head of Editorial for Fresh Business Thinking and We obviously have Europe’s biggest International Trade. shopping centre, 8,000 jobs on its own. @marcusleach8 We have got the media centre, which is now under offer to iCity, who are looking at putting in a big data facility which will attract businesses around it. I think they are looking at 4,500 jobs alone there. The running of the sporting venues will be another 1500 jobs. The spill out from that will create more again, so it is a hugely important legacy to nurture.” As Boris Johnson said at the end of the ‘Our Greatest Team’ parade “you (the athletes) brought home the truth about us and about this country - that when we put our minds to it there is no limit to what 13